The Struggle of a Life-time
by Peter Brokaar
Today I want to start with a quote from the famous preacher D.L. Moody, who reportedly said: ‘I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man’.
What does he mean? I think he means that, apart from all the potential problems other people bring to life, the greatest problem of them all is our own sinful inclination.
Yes, there are plenty of other problems in life. People might trouble us, annoy us or even persecute us. The devil is certainly against us. But the greatest problem of them all, in all honesty, is that we’re sinful. There’s something in us all that wants to sin, rebel against God and simply do our own thing. The struggle is real. I’ve met people who disagree with this and believe that they’re not sinful. But I have never yet met a person who doesn’t sin.
Sometimes I’ve been personally surprised at what kind of awful thoughts and desires seem to rise up in me. Sometimes I feel like doing some very unchristian things. This can come as a shock to us when we know we’re saved, perhaps also filled with God’s Spirit, and have been walking with the Lord for years. But the Bible helps us understand that, inside of us, even after having been born again, there remains that pesky sinful nature. We won’t be freed from this until we physically die.
D.L. Moody struggled against sin. And, judging by today’s scripture, so did the Apostle Paul. I believe that we struggle too. In fact, I would say that, when I’m walking more closely with God, I struggle more actively against sinful desires. However, when I’m not actively struggling, I’m probably in danger of becoming a bit complacent. Assessing my struggle acts as a bit of a litmus test of how I’m doing in my walk with the Lord.
Sin grows like an ugly weed. Unless we keep ‘weeding out our heart’ so to speak, it will grow all too quickly and choke out the beautiful fruit that the Holy Spirit seeks to produce in us.
How I rejoice when people come to Ellel Ministries and say, “Please help me, because I’m struggling with my own sin”. I rejoice because I know that it’s for sinners that Jesus died and He’s both willing, as well as capable, to help us.
I want to end with a line from a song called ‘In the light’ by the band DC Talk, who were well-known especially in the 90’s. Their heartfelt struggle expressed in song is something we might all be able to relate to:
What`s going on inside of me?
I despise my own behaviour.
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I`m still a man in need of a Saviour.
Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, that You love me despite my sinful inclinations. Sometimes I feel I want to do the wrong things. Please help me in this struggle and keep me from sinning. In Your name, Amen.
Peter Brokaar is Director of Ellel Ministries Scotland and has been there together with his wife Liz since 2005. They have 3 kids, all born in Scotland! In his free time he likes reading, cooking, running and surfing. Being at Ellel Scotland has given him the privilege of getting to know God deeper and sharing that joy with many others.
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